The debate continues to rage regarding the 2023 Ballon d’Or award, with Lionel Messi reportedly set to win the award for the 8th time in his career.
The position that has been made by many on the side of the divide that he should win the award, has largely been due to Messi’s contributions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Who should win the 2023 Ballon d’Or award?
Despite a large chunk of individuals infuriated with the possibility that fellow challengers like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe might be snubbed for the prestigious individual honor, it is imperative to note that Lionel Messi’s impact at the World Cup was magnificent.
The unequivocal effect that a player’s outstanding performance at the FIFA World Cup helps in swaying the judges’ decisions has always been massive.
In the last two decades and more, most players who won the Ballon d’Or in a World Cup year either won the tournament or were close to winning it, barring certain exceptions.
Zinedine Zidane, 1998
Zinedine Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, following a glorious outing with France on home soil.
At the time he was playing for Italian club Juventus, but winning the Ballon d’Or that year could ultimately be linked to his success with France in 1998.
Ronaldo Delima, 2002
Korea/Japan 2002 success with Brazil also had a massive effect on him winning the award, and rightly so many can hold that claim as he had an average 2001/02 season with Real Madrid.
Fabio Cannavaro, 2006
The last defender to win the Ballon d’Or award also won it after guiding Italy to success at the 2006 FIFA World Cup hosted by Germany.
Cannavaro captained the Azzurri to success, and he was particularly impressive for club and country.
Lionel Messi, 2010
Well, the enigma went home with the award in 2010, following a great individual outing for club and country.
The 2010 Ballon d’Or award remains one of the most controversial in history, with many still bemused over the fact that Wesley Sneijder or Andres Iniesta didn’t win the award.
Sneijder had a great season with Inter winning the treble – Serie A, Coppa Italia, and UEFA Champions League and he reached the final of the World Cup with the Netherlands.
Former teammate at Barcelona, Andres Iniesta also won the FIFA World Cup with Spain in 2010 and he won the La Liga, Supercopa de Espana, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup alongside Lionel Messi.
Messi bowed out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in the quarter-final with Argentina, after losing 4-0 to Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 2014
This was another contentious award, with the award organizers settling for individual contributions ahead of a player winning the FIFA World Cup.
Manuel Neuer was the nearest challenger to Cristiano Ronaldo, given his exploits with Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Neuer won the Golden Glove for the tournament, and at club level, he won the Bundesliga, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern Munich.
However, that couldn’t earn him the prestigious individual award, as legendary forward Ronaldo was handed the award instead.
Luka Modric, 2018
Following what you might term the altering of the status quo, organizers of the Ballon d’Or reverted back to their mode of operation.
Luka Modric won the award, after helping Croatia to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, albeit losing 4-1 to France.
Modric was instrumental to the Croats’ amazing showing at the tournament, and that seemingly formed the basis of France Football’s judgment.
He also had a remarkable season with Real Madrid, winning the UEFA Champions League, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo scoring 44 goals in 44 club appearances in the 2017/18 season, Modric still went home with the Ballon d’Or award.
Now, the question is, can Lionel Messi continue with the trend of a player winning the Ballon d’Or because of his performance at the World Cup or would there be another altering of the status quo?
